Case



Patented Nov. 7, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE and particularly tobrief cases, envelopes, book bags and the like.

Cases of this character frequently are formed of front and rear panelsconnected together on three sides by means of a gusset or the like. Inconstructing bags in this manner the raw edges of the material arefrequently exposed along the sides and bottom of the case. Not only arethe "raw edges unattractive in appearance but also they are subject towear and discoloration. The construction of the case is furthercomplicated by the fact that reenforcing'or stiffening members arefrequently provided adjacent the edges of the case. In the methods ofconstruction heretofore in use the reenforcing members further detractedfrom the appearance of the case and subjected it to further wear at thepoints where the members were located.

20 It is an object of the present invention to overcome the dilficultiesheretofore encountered and to provide an improved case such as a briefcase, envelope, book bag or the like of improved construction, in whichthere are no unsightly raw 25 edges along the sides and bottom of thecase.

It is a further object to provide an improved case of the abovecharacter of reenforced construction, in which the reenforcing orstiffening elements are embodied in the case in such a man- 30 ner asnot only to strengthen the case but also to improve the appearancethereof.

Another object is to provide an improved case which combines bothfinished edges and a reenforcing frame in a unitary structure, thussatis- 35 fying at one and the same time two real needs of the art.

With these and other objects in view reference should be had to theaccompanying drawing, in which 40 Figure 1 is a perspective view of acase embodying my invention, showing the cover flap in open position;

Fig, 2 is a sectional view of one side of the case taken on the line 22of Figure 1;

45 Fig. 3 is a sectional View of one side of the cover flap of the case,taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Fig. 4 is a view of one type of stiffening or reenforcing element thatmay be used in the cover 50 flap; and

Fig. 5 is a view of one type of reenforcing or stiffening element thatmay be used around the edges of the front and rear panels of the case.

It should be understood that a case embodying 55 my invention may bemade of any desired ma- This invention relates to improvements in casesterial, suchas leather, artificial leather, textile material, plasticmaterial orthe like. It should also be understood that my invention maybe embodied in many different types of cases, such as brief cases,envelopes, book'bags and the like. 5'"- In the accompanying drawing myinvention is illustrated as embodied in a brief case comprsing front andrear panels Ill and II connected together along their side and bottomedges as by means of agusset I2 which may be formed in 10 severalsections, or, as shown, may be formed in one piece. The upper edges ofthe front and rear panels indicated at l3 are not connected together butare open so as to permit the insertion and removal of articles. Aconvenient form of closure may be provided for the case by forming therear panel II with an extension or flap I4 at its upper end adapted tobe folded over the front of the case in the usual manner and bereleasably held in closed position in any desired manner as by the catchindicated at [5 and I6 and the straps I! which encircle the bag and aresupported in suitable loops [8 secured to the panels. The inside of thebag may be divided into several compartments as shown, by means of thepartitions I9 secured at their lateral edges to the folds in the gussetas by means of stitches 2B.

To prevent undesirable raw edges along the sides and bottom of the bag Isecure the edges; of the gusset to the front and rear panels in animproved manner. Thus, as shown most clearly in Fig. 2, the longitudinaledges of the gusset indicated at 2| are placed against the innersurfaces of the front and rear panels [0 and II, a short distance fromthe side and bottom edges thereof. 'The side and bottom marginal edgesindicated at 23 are then folded inwardly towards the inside andthecenter of the bag as shown, and laid against the surface of the gussetadjacent the longitudinal edges thereof, and the en- 40 tire assembly isheld in position in some suitable manner as by the stitches 22.

To .reenforce or stiffen the bag I preferably employ. reenforcing orstiffening elements which may be formed of metal, wire, fibre, twistedpaper or the like. I have found that satisfactory results are obtainedby employing a stiffening element made of wire, and accordingly, I haveillustrated astiffening element of this character in the accompanyingdrawing. I preferably emplay a stiffening element adjacent both thefront and rear panels and each stiffening element may be formed in oneor more pieces. In the accompanying drawing I have illustrated thepreferred form of stiffening element comprising a unitary wire member24, which is formed so as to extend around the two sides and the bottomof the panel. I preferably employ two reenforcing or stiffening elementsin my case, one in association with the front panel and one inassociation with the rear panel. In assembling the stiffening elementswith the case I preferably place the elements on the inner surface ofthe panels surrounding the edges Zl of the gusset prior to folding themarginal edges of the panels inwardly against the gusset. When thereenforcing or stiffening elements have been thus positioned themarginal edges of the panels are folded inwardly as shown and arestitched in position by means of the stitches 22.

the sides and bottom of the case. The reenforc ing or stiffeningelements cause the folded-over edges of the panels to assume theappearance of piping.

If desired, a reenforcingor stifiening element may also be used inassociation with the cover flap M. This reenforcing or stiiieningelement indicated at 25 may likewise be formed of any suitable materialsuch as. wire, fiber, twisted paper or the like. In the accompanyingdrawing I illustrate a stiffening element 25 made of wire which isplaced against the inner surface of the flap l4 and the marginal edgesthereof are folded inwardly as indicated at 26 and stitched in positionas shown at 21. It should be appre- In this way it will be seen thatonly finished edges will be presented along ciated that the stiffeningelement 25 should be of such a size as not to interfere with the foldingof the flap in closing.

From the foregoing description of my inven tion it will be appreciatedthat I have provided an improved case such as a brief case, envelope, orbook bag, in which there are no unsightly exposed raw edges along thesides or bottom thereof and in which the case is reenforced or stiffenedin an improved manner. ,7

It should be understood that modifications may be made inthe'illustrated and described embodiment of my invention, such asvarying the type of case employed and also such as forming thestiffening elements and gusset in a plurality of sections.

I claim:

In a case of the character described, front and rear panels, a gussetconnected between the panels, one of the longitudinal edges of thegusset being secured tothe. inner surface of one of the panels a shortdistance fromthe side and bottom edges thereof, and a reinforcing wiremember positioned around the side and bottom edges of the last-mentionedpanel and abutting the longitudinal edge of the gusset, the marginaledge of said last-mentioned panel at the sides and bottom thereof beingfolded inwardly upon the gusset so as to cover and conceal thereinforcing member and the edge of the gusset.

' ABRAHAM I. KLOTZ.

